I will no more pour you away

I think this poem is really quite stunning.  The words might be simple but they are beautiful, the line breaks feel right, and the feeling you get from it feels really big and very complex.  I cannot even put it into words.  I read it a number of times, and sat with it.  Many of the sentences are just gorgeous.  I don't know, I'm certainly not being profound, but I recommend reading this poem.  Arden is very lucky.

 

Thoughts Before Whittling

Sarah Gridley

for Arden

When a block of wood
falls into your hands,
angle the knife away,
skim the wood as you would milk.
Listening for what to do next is this
transparent, the bones of the ear,
this exactingly small.
As you were
will be the command
restoring you to love.
You will not
pretend to forget
what is hard
and innermost here.
Years ago,
you were gifted a tea set
that made no sense.
So miniature the cups,
the pot, the creamer—
any attempt at ceremony
could only overrun them.
Do not deceive me,
soul,
and I will no more
pour you away.